Brass seeks more from running back
Say this for the 49ers’ new tandem of John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan: The general manager and head coach are on the same page when it comes to running back Carlos Hyde.
Last month, at the NFL combine, they parroted each other as they described the 2014 second-round pick as a promising work in progress after three NFL seasons.
“I don’t think he’s a finished product,” Shanahan said. “I think there’s a lot more to his game and I look forward to us helping him bring that out.”
Said Lynch: “He’s had nice film. We think he has a lot more in him and we’re excited to try to pull that out of him.”
The 49ers presumably will see if they can maximize Hyde’s lead-back potential. At the combine, Shanahan said, “Right now, I see Carlos being our back.”
However, that not-quitedefinitive statement has been followed by several reports that the 49ers are extremely interested in the draft’s top running back, LSU’s Leonard Fournette. On Monday, draftanalyst.com reported the 49ers were ready to “give up” on Hyde and were considering Fournette with the No. 2 overall pick. When asked about the report Wednesday, Lynch didn’t dismiss it. And his response suggested Hyde is being viewed with at least some degree of skepticism.
“I think as a player, one of the great things about this league and, frankly, what drove me to get back into it is that you’re always proving yourself,” Lynch said. “Particularly when there is a new regime. I hope Carlos feels that way, but I also can tell you that we’re really high on him and what he might be able to do in this offense. We think he can be a highly productive player, but we’re eager to see.”
Even if the 49ers don’t land Fournette, who possesses a jaw-dropping blend of speed and power, they could emerge from the draft with a player from a deep class at the position.
Hyde and a rookie could be part of a one-two punch that evokes the backfield Shanahan had last season in Atlanta with Devonta Freeman (1,079 rushing yards) and Tevin Coleman (520). At this point, Hyde’s top backups are Tim Hightower, 30, and DuJuan Harris, 28.
Regardless of how Shanahan and Lynch view Hyde’s ability, using an early- to midround pick on a running back would be prudent, given Hyde’s extensive injury history.
Hyde, who repeatedly has said he wants to deliver punishment to defenders, has missed 14 games in his career because of injuries to his ankle, foot, shoulder and knee. He also left a Week 2 game in 2015 with a concussion, but did not miss the next week’s game.
Hyde has 1,791 career yards and has averaged 4.3 yards a carry. Last season, he played in 13 games and ranked 14th in the NFL in rushing (988 yards). He averaged 4.6 yards a carry, which ranked eighth among the 19 running backs with at least 200 carries.
Those are fairly impressive numbers, but Hyde clearly needs to work to completely wow his new head coach and general manager.
“You have these thoughts as to, ‘Do these skills translate to what we do?’ ” Lynch said. “He’s a very talented young man. We are very excited and hopeful, just in the interactions that we’ve had, that he’s come ready to play.”